Chinese word

上任

Pronunciation

Pinyinshàng rèn

Meaning

  • verbtake office

Example

新的经理下周上任。xīn de jīng lǐ xià zhōu shàng rèn

The new manager takes office next week.

Illustration for 上任 (take office)

More examples

新领导今天正式上任，并发表了简短讲话。xīn líng dǎo jīn tiān zhèng shì shàng rèn bìng fā biǎo le jián duǎn jiǎng huà

The new leader officially took office today and gave a brief speech.

Core concept

A person crosses the threshold of an official post and starts carrying its duties.

Common phrases

  • 正式上任zhèng shì shàng rèn

    officially take office

  • 顺利上任shùn lì shàng rèn

    take office smoothly

  • 按时上任àn shí shàng rèn

    take office on time

Similar words

就任jiù rèn: Formally take up an office after receiving an appointment.
就职jiù zhí: Take up a job or official post and begin performing its duties.
到任dào rèn: Arrive at the place where an assigned post is located.
接任jiē rèn: Take over a post and its duties from the previous holder.

Definition in Chinese

接受任命并正式开始担任某项职务。jiē shòu rèn mìng bìng zhèng shì kāi shǐ dān rèn mǒu xiàng zhí wù

Word origin

The combination of 上 (shàng, "go up") and 任 (rèn, "office or duty") creates the image of entering the office that an appointment assigns.

Usage tips

  • The word often appears when a new manager or official begins a role, so it is especially useful for describing a formal change of position rather than a routine change in daily tasks.

Other meanings

  • take up one's postverb

Opposites

  • 离任lí rènleave officeverb
  • 卸任xiè rènstep downverb

Related words

  • 上任者shàng rèn zhěofficeholdernoun
  • 上任日shàng rèn rìdate of taking officenoun

Word lists with this word